SC 44 #1: Appeared as an original state highway, running from SC 41 (now SC 377) Lane east to SC 40 (now US 17) Georgetown.
About 1925, SC 44 was extended west to the new SC 41 (now US 52) west of Gourdin, replacing some of SC 261. Also by then, SC 44 was rerouted at Andrews to head northwest to today's US 521/SC 377 jct, then south to Lane over what had been SC 41. The old road directly to Lane is now S-45-16 (though was SC 515 for a time).
In 1928, SC 44 was mostly renumbered as SC 261 through Lane (SC 44 appears to have used S-45-385 which SC 261 did not) and SC 26 from today's US 521/SC 377 jct east to Georgetown. Today this is SC 375, SC 377, and US 521 (used US 521 Business through Andrews).
Note that the 1922 Auto Trails Map erroneously shows this as SC 43 instead of SC 44.

SC 44 replaces SC 43
1923 Auto Trails

SC 44 extended to relocated SC 41
1926 Auto Trails

SC 44 replaced by SC 261 and SC 26
1930 Official

SC 44 #2: In place by 1929, running as a new primary route from SC 30 (now US 15) Mannville southwest to the Sumter County line.
In 1940, SC 44 was extended west as new primary routing to end at US 521 Rembert.
About 1945, SC 44 was extended southwest across SC 261, then south through Hagood and Horatio to end at SC 261 Sanders Corner.
In 1947, SC 44 was downgraded to S-44-37 west of Rembert; S-44-20 and S-31-7 from Rembert to SC 441; SC 441 over to US 15.